Kailua Kona

Start your journey at the Kailua Kona where you will see the first church built by the Christians in 1820. The Mokuaikaua was rebuilt using lava rock and crushed coral in 1837 and up to this day, it is a good place to retreat into if you want to escape from all the urban noise you are used to. Just nearby is the Hulihee Palace which now serves as a museum.

Ahuena Heiau

The Ahueana Heaiu was used by the Great Kamehameha when he conquered the islands of Hawaii in the early part of the nineteenth century. The surrounding villages was known as the capital of the islands thru 1821 and up to now a lot of the natives see it as the capital of Hawaii.

Coffee Country

Just before reaching the village of Captain Cook on the 110 mile marker, pull over to the Kona Coffee farm where you can learn about the lifestyle in the plantation that has evolved in the last century. Here you will know more about coffee and also be able to try local fruits like Kona oranges, guavas, passion fruit and more.

Kealakekua Bay

In the Kealakekua Bay, you will see a monument where James Cook was killed in 1779 by the natives of the islands. This significant piece of history happened a year after Cook became the first Europeans to reach what they called Sandwich Island.

Forest and Lava Fields

After the coffee shack and Painted Church, you will be passing thru fields of lava and paradise like forests.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Stop by at the visitor center of the park and inquire how you can see some active lava flowing out of the earth. Most likely a ranger will take you thru a guided hike.

Honokaa

From Honomu you have to get off the highway to go to the Honokaa which overlooks the Waipio Valley offering one of the most picturesque sites in Hawaii.

The obvious reason that Maui is a great whale watching destination is that there are a lot of whales to see. The area off shore has been set aside as a nature reserve to protect the whale habitat which has resulted in large numbers of whales. The whale that you are most likely to see off of Maui is the humpback whale which normally travels right past the island on its winter migration from Alaska. The result is that if you come at the right time of year you are almost guaranteed seeing whales.

Another reason that Maui is such a great whale watching destination is that the best time to see whales is in the middle of winter. The whales move south over the winter to escape the cold, vacationers tend to do the same thing. That means that the time that the whales are in Maui is also the best time for visitors to come to the island to get away from the terrible weather at home. Besides nobody wants to be out looking for whales when it is freezing cold.

Not only is it easy to see whales off the coast of Maui but the area is well set up for it. Since a lot of people make the trip specifically to see the whales there are a lot of companies that have been established to capitalize on this business. The result is that the infrastructure for Whale Watching in Maui is excellent. There are lots of tour operators who will take you out to see the whales, although it is completely possible to see them while standing on land. In addition all of the things like hotels and restaurants that a tourist would need are there as the island has long been a popular destination.

One advantage that Maui has over other whale watching destinations is that there is a lot that you can do there besides watch the whales. While the reason for your trip may be to see the whales, realistically few people will spend their entire vacation whale watching. Since Maui is a popular tourist destination for lots of other reasons there are also lots of things besides watching whales that you can do. Most people will spend a day or two watching the whales and spend the rest of their trip doing other things, which is not really an option at a lot of other destinations.

Here are some things kids can be busy with in Hawaii:

Surfing

This is on top of the activities your kids can engage in Hawaii. If your kid has not tried this before, there are a lot of surfing schools in Hawaii which cater to children who want to learn. A good place to learn how to ride the waves Is in the island of Oahu. The waves around the third biggest island of Hawaii are gentle enough for kids and perfect for surfing beginners.

Pearl Harbor

Help your kids learn about a good chunk of history and visit Pearl Harbor with them. Your kids will not be snoring during the tour since there are a lot of interesting things to see like the USS Missouri where the Japanese forces surrendered. They can also tour the battleship to see where Gen. Douglas McArthur once walked. There is also the USS Bowfin Submarine which is now converted as a museum.

Volcanoes National Park

The islands of Hawaii are still evolving because of the active volcanoes of the islands. The volcanoes are also great destinations so your kids can learn something about our planet. You and your kids will enjoy the ride thru the Crater Rime Drive or along the Chain of Craters Road which will bring you close enough to the flowing lava.

Road to Hana

The Hana Highway in Maui brings you down a road that stitches in and out of the green valleys, breath taking cliffs, by the waterfalls, and exciting one lane bridges. There are several lookouts where you can stop and stretch a bit. You can also hike to swimming holes or go for some hiking.

Papawai Point

All you will need are your binoculars to see the giant humpback whales enjoying the waters near the Maalaea Bay. Slow down when you get to the 8 and 9-mile marker. Stop when you see the scenic point sign. Stop. And enjoy the beautiful Hawaii sunset.

Mauna Kea Summit

Mauna Kea is in Big Island offers one of the most breath taking views in the state of Hawaii. It is considered as a sacred spot by the locals. Being on top of Mauna Kea is like looking down into earth from heaven with all the marshmallowy clouds. Stay for a bit and wait for the stars, and you can be looking at the best view of our galaxy.

Saddle Road

The name comes from the shape of the path you will take from Mauna Kea through Mauna Loa. This is a 53 mile saddle-shaped road. The sunrise and sunsets are among the best in the world.

Na Pali Coast

Take a boat earl y in the morning and you will be viewing the velvety cliffs from the waters while sea turtles, dolphins, and whales keep you company.

If one is going to describe the style of the Renew, the concepts of “New Age” and “Japanese” will probably pop up. However, unlike other hotels who have ventured in the same line, the Renew sits there without pretention. When you enter the building, you’ll feel nothing but warmth and friendliness from both the structure itself and the hotel staff.

The hotel is located on the eastern tip of the Waikiki. It’s about a block away from the Kapiolani Park. You’ll also find an abundance of upscale shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, and bars just 10 minutes away from the Renew. A room at the Renew will pretty much feel like an oasis as well. Some rooms may not have a balcony, but they’re definitely big enough for two people.

The Japanese styling details are comforting. You’ll be immersed in a black, brown, gray theme, with Japanese sliding window screens opening up to the Pacific. You can also adjust the room’s lighting to your taste, whether you’re off to sleep, prefer dimmed lighting for relaxation, or in need of bright lights for reading.

Standard rooms of the hotel also have a large TV, a lounge chair, a small refrigerator, and an average-sized bathroom with a New Age vibe to it. You might find the tub small, but the bathroom is good enough for relaxing showers.

These volcanoes are extremely different, totally unique and are definitely one of those things that you have to see whenever you are in Hawaii.  Hawaii is one of the only places that have active volcanoes left and I have to say, they are beautiful.

You want to try a unique and different tour?  Try a volcano park tour, they are certainly unique!

One great way to do that is actually via a tour.  There are many different tours for you to choose from, however you want to make sure that you find one suits all of your needs and certainly gives you enough time to really appreciate what you are seeing.

Pearl Harbor is a beautiful sight and one that is so historic, why would you not want to see it?

Why would you want to spend all of your days on the inside, gambling all of your money away instead of spending it on the beach or outside where you can actually soak up some of those beautiful rays.

Hawaii is a place to be outside and if you are inside, you are gambling all of the time.

It runs about four times a day from three different stations, Puukolii, Kaanapali and finally Lahaina.  These three stations are the only ones that it runs out of and if you are curious about the times … you might have to do some research.

The price though?  That is about $22.50 round trip for adults and then $15.50 for kids and anyone under 3 is free.

Now that we have talked a little bit about the camping on the beach, let’s go ahead and discuss the snorkeling that happens in Hawaii.  Hawaii is by far one of the best places in the world to snorkel.  The reason being that you can see so many beautiful, wonderful things in the ocean and it is so blue and so clear, it is absolutely incredible!

There are a ton of different places that you can find snorkeling too, which makes it extremely easy and most of the time, it is very inexpensive, so if you are on a budget, you can definitely make sure that you stay within that while you are snorkeling.

Hawaii is a fantastic place to visit and certainly one of the best places in the world to take a vacation to!